On Oct. 11, Daisy Lee Barnes Sankey marked a milestone birthday — 100 years young. Friends, family and admirers gathered on Oct. 12 at the Highland Home School Auditorium to celebrate this momentous occasion with Daisy, whose compassion and wisdom have made her a beloved figure in the community.
The celebration, which started at 4 p.m., drew over 220 guests, filling the auditorium with love, laughter and admiration for Daisy’s incredible life.
“I appreciate everyone that came and I love every one of them very much,” Daisy said. “If my arms were long enough, I would reach around them and hug them all at the same time.”
Like most farm-family members of the day, Daisy grew up with many brothers and sisters. She had 14 siblings from her mother and eight from her stepmother.
Her mother, Sallie Hooks Sankey (1886-1929), passed away just before Daisy’s fifth birthday. Daisy remembers her father, Willie Andrew Barnes (1886–1959), as a constant, loving presence in her life.